Virtual server vs. physical server

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29.07.2024

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If with the development of your business the usual hosting ceases to meet the needs of your activity, you have to think about renting a virtual or physical server. To make it easier for you to make a choice, we tell you about the features of both options.

Physical server: what it is and in which cases it is suitable

A physical server (Dedicated Server/DS) is a computer or server that physically exists as a separate unit and is designed to perform a variety of computing tasks.

The DS is the right fit if you:

Need access to the equipment and maximum authority when working with it.
You need a machine for non-standard settings or programmes.

It is important to understand that a physical server requires a data centre, as well as redundant Internet and power supply.

Virtual server: how it works and who it is suitable for

A Virtual Private Server (VPS) is a software virtualisation that runs on physical hardware. In fact, VPS users get access to physical servers via the Internet without the need to purchase and install expensive equipment, as well as allocate a separate space in the office for the server room.

Unlike shared hosting, VPS provides users with greater freedom and flexibility in configuring and managing the server. This solution will suit users who:

Are looking for a more flexible and scalable solution than shared hosting.
Are unwilling or unable to purchase a dedicated physical server.
Need high productivity and reliability, create complex programmes or resource-intensive websites.

As a result, they get access to their own operating system, the ability to install and configure any software and set up their own infrastructure.

A VPS can be used for the purpose of:

Setting up web servers.
Database storage.
Creating a separate email and other software products.
Deploying a full-fledged website or CRM-system for storing data of clients and office staff.

Comparison of virtual and physical server

To determine which server is suitable for your business or individual tasks, you should understand the differences between DS and VPS. The main parameters of these solutions are presented in the table below:

Parameter	Dedicated Server	Virtual Server
Productivity	High: All DS resources are fully owned by a single user, maximising performance for applications and tasks. Ideal for tasks that require a lot of power, such as large databases or video processing.	Medium: VPS resources are distributed across multiple virtual machines. This leads to performance degradation under high loads. This solution is suitable for applications and websites of medium complexity.
Scalability	Limited: You need to purchase a new or additional server to increase resources. This can be a time-consuming and costly process.	High: Easily scalable by adding CPU, memory or disc space. This makes VPS an ideal choice for businesses that grow quickly and require flexibility.
Management	High level of control: The DS owner is responsible for administration, upgrades and security, which may require additional technical expertise.	Easy management: VPS can be easily customised to your needs and settings can be monitored remotely from anywhere in the world without the help of IT specialists.
Safety	Individual customisation: High level of isolation from other users. Protection depends on the settings and policies set by the user. Ideal for preserving sensitive data.	Sufficient isolation: VPS provides good security, but there is some level of resource sharing that can increase the risk of vulnerabilities. But most providers provide protection at the hypervisor level.
Cost	High: The user pays for the entire server even if they don't use all of its resources. This is economically unprofitable for small businesses and individuals.	More affordable: The user pays only for the resources used, which reduces the cost of renting a virtual server by up to 70% compared to a dedicated server.
Flexibility configurations	Complete: You can select specific hardware components such as CPU, memory, disc space and network interfaces. This allows the server to be fully customised to meet specific needs.	Restricted: Configuration is limited by physical server capabilities and provider policies. VPS is not flexible enough to perform specialised or non-standard tasks.
Performance networks	Usually better: Dedicated network resources that provide stable and fast connection speeds. Suitable for applications that require high bandwidth.	Varies: Depends on the quality of virtualisation and network settings. Can affect performance if many virtual machines are using the network at the same time.
Dependence on the provider	Smaller: Using DS gives you more control over your hardware and software. Allows you to select any software and OS vendor.	Large: VPS depends on the provider's infrastructure, policies and restrictions. May limit the choice of operating systems and software.
Accessibility	High: Depends on the level of service and availability of redundancy. Power and network redundancy can be arranged to minimise downtime.	Usually high: Providers often provide high availability through clustering and redundancy. Therefore, VPS is a good choice for websites and applications that require long uptime.
Suitability tasks	Ideal for tasks that require full server control, high performance and isolation, such as big data processing, specific applications that require non-standard configuration.	Suitable for medium workloads, websites, blogs, test environments, small business applications. Ideal for projects that have potential for growth.

Conclusions

To make the right choice between a physical and virtual server, first of all, take into account the peculiarities of your web resource. If you are the owner of a small or medium-sized business, the best option for its stable and uninterrupted operation will be a virtual server. In the data centre Maxnet you can conveniently order a service to provide a virtual server based on Linux and Windows.